MOSCOW, Apr 12 Press Secretary of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) Maria Melnikova on her Telegram channel said that there are witnesses who can confirm that Russian racer Artem Severyukhin, who used a gesture similar to a Nazi salute, was shown from under the podium what he needed to depict as a token of gratitude, and he simply repeated it. On the podium after winning the first stage of the European Karting Championship in Portimão, Portugal, Severyukhin, who competes under the Italian flag due to FIA sanctions, used the “Roman salute” gesture (hit his chest and extended his right hand forward). Severyukhin later stated that he wanted to thank the team and his relatives from Russia in this way, adding that in his gesture «there was no support for Nazism or fascism, there was no desire to offend the spectators, pilots and the team.» «For my part, I tried to find out what happened that day in the paddock after the events at the award ceremony Information from the race paddock: unofficially from officials Immediately after the award ceremony, representatives of the CIK FIA approached Artem to clarify what had happened. They received explanations from Artem, were satisfied with them and said that they would cut out this moment from the broadcast. Nevertheless, there are always well-wishers who will post a scandal on social networks and inflate it, «Melnikova wrote. did not mean at all what they later put into it.Third, the witnesses report that from under the podium Artyom was shown what repeated it. The video only confirms that he is addressing someone who is in front of him. Fourth, in the team's social networks, despite the published statement, there was a post about Artem's victory with congratulations and numerous photos.
